Where are the PIC instructions for RobotC 3?

I've seen directions for the Cortex, of course, and directions for some old 1.x and 2.x version of RobotC, but neither seems to apply. I have a very recent version of RobotC.

When I pull down the VIEW menu and choose PREFERENCES I do not see "platform type" or "VEX COMMUNICATION PORT". (as suggested in the old "Download Firmware" PDF.

Trying to use the "Master Firmware Download instructions" (for RobotC for IFI 2.0), I'm stuck. There ae no "download firmware" choices on the "Robot" menu. "Platform type" I can set to V0.5 PIC, but I don't know where the port selection has been moved.

Why is nothing ever easy?

Have you tried switching your menu level to "superuser"? The platform type is also under the "robot" menu. The port selection should be under View -> preferences -> detailed preferences.

I had put it into superuser for a while but didn't see the detailed preferences. Thanks

There's some kind of communication problem. I'm not seeing a "download firmware" selection yet. In the spot where the "download firmware" should be instead it says i can "Test Communications Link". Of course, that test fails.

I'm thinking it's that last one.

On the view>preferences>detailed preferences>platform tab I can see that the USB is recognized, I can select it (COM4) and "apply" the change, but when I leave the page it changes back to "automatic".

I've tried two cables and two PICs. Only one battery though. It seems charged well enough.

If it helps, the "configure sensors and motors" is grayed out, unlike the menus shown in the directions.

EDIT:
I read about (and tryed) using a transmitter battery to raise the voltage. It didn't help. The software sees the USB cable on COM4 but won't use it.

You should be able to find fairly good instructions in the ROBOTC Help. Go to Help > Open Help > Getting Started.